Design For Participant Access
Accessible research surveys are easier for more participants to complete and easier for researchers to defend methodologically. Accessibility starts with clear wording, readable layouts, sensible question types, and mobile-friendly design.
Open The Right Place
Step 1: Open the survey editor. From Surveys, open the survey you want to review.
Step 1: Open the survey editor
Step 2: Review question layout in Block Builder. Use Block Builder to inspect prompts, answer labels, matrix rows, sliders, and any media-heavy blocks.
Step 2: Review question layout in Block Builder
Step 3: Test the respondent view. Open Preview and complete the survey with keyboard, mobile, and desktop checks in mind.
Step 3: Test the respondent view
Step 4: Check public settings. Open Deploy to review theme, link, and response settings before sharing the survey.
Step 4: Check public settings
Practical Accessibility Checks
- Language: use plain wording where the research protocol allows it, and explain technical terms before asking participants to use them.
- Answer options: keep labels short, parallel, and mutually understandable so respondents can scan choices quickly.
- Theme: use high-contrast colors, readable fonts, and a restrained logo or visual style.
- Mobile preview: complete the full survey on a phone-sized screen, especially any matrix, ranking, heatmap, or conjoint task.
- Matrix size: split very large grids into smaller questions when a row-by-row layout would reduce burden.
- Inclusive exits: include options such as Prefer not to answer when the topic or protocol warrants them.
For participants who are likely to complete the study on phones, review Mobile-Friendly Research Surveys.
Block Builder: Add Block
Question Type Choices
Long categorical lists may be easier as Dropdown questions. Repeated Likert items should use mobile-friendly Grid Matrix settings. Numeric scales should have clear endpoint labels in Slider questions.
Block Builder: Question Type
Pilot With Accessibility In Mind
Ask pilot testers whether the survey is readable, whether answer choices are understandable, and whether any task is difficult on a phone. Accessibility problems are much easier to fix before live data collection.
Preview: Respondent View